Jan 7, 2009 11:45 PM
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I just greased on Logitech's G19 gaming keyboard with its full-blown, full-color LCD display, and it feels just like the G-keyboards you love, but you know, topped a pretty YouTube-playing, widget-powered display.
GALLERY
END So the 320x240 GamePanel LCD runs a whole bunch of widgets out of the box, like for Twitter, images, VOIP, system info, game data or yes, YouTube, and you can add more. It's nice, and video playback is surprisingly smooth, but it's too small to really do any serious video watching—fine for the other stuff like IM though, and definitely more versatile than the monochrome displays in the earlier G keyboards.
The trademark Logitech key squishiness/punchiness is there, so if you're upgrading from one of the current G-series keyboards, you'll feel at home. Backlighting color is customizable, and you've got a respectable number of macro keys.
Here's the rub—It needs its own power brick to power the display and the Linux computer inside of it. This would be more tolerable if it also had audio ports in the back (like Razer or SteelSeries' keyboard) to help cut down on the wire mess, but it doesn't. Also, um, 200 bucks.
* GamePanel LCD requires software that supports Logitech® GamePanel™ technology
Logitech® G19 keyboard for gaming
An arsenal of advanced gaming technology
Announcement Date: January 6, 2009 Shipping: March 2009
Price: $199.99 Available at: www.logitech.com
Product Overview
As a gamer, you never compromise – not on your team, not on your weapons and certainly not
on your hardware. The Logitech G19 keyboard features a tiltable, color GamePanel ™ LCD to
show game stats, VOIP communication data, and many other favorite items. With customization
capabilities such as user-selectable character backlighting color, 12 fully programmable G-keys,
two high-speed USB ports and multi-key input, the Logitech G19 keyboard is the perfect
weapon for your gaming rig.
Key Features
Color GamePanel LCD* can show game stats, system information, communication data,
video playback, image slideshows, or other information, without leaving the game.
Twelve programmable G-keys with 3 shift states (or modes) means that you have 36
programmable macros per game or application
o Use the MR (macro record) key to record new macros on-the-fly.
Multi-key input allows you to use up to five keys at once to perform multiple complex actions.
Two high-speed, powered USB 2.0 ports give you the ability to connect you mouse to the
keyboard or to transfer data to and from peripherals such as MP3 players and flash drives.
User-selectable character backlighting color lets you personalize the keyboard to
complement the rest of your computer and gaming equipment.
System Requirements
Windows® XP or Windows Vista®
Mac® OS X 10.4 or later
High-speed USB 2.0 port
20 MB of available hard disk space
CD-ROM drive
Product Specifications
Length: 19.5 inches
Height: 2 inches
Width: 10.5 inches
Weight: 4.86 lbs
Display: Color 320-by-240 pixel display
Warranty
Send an email to matt buchanan, the author of this post, at matt@gizmodo.com.
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
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